Key Things to Know About
COVID-19 Vaccines
Help stop the pandemic by getting vaccinated
From the US Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Information updated Apr 19, 2021:
Everyone 16 years of age and older is now eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccination. Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. Widespread vaccination is a critical tool to help stop the pandemic.
After you’ve been vaccinated, keep taking precautions …
Studies show that COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting COVID-19. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine will also help keep you from getting seriously ill even if you do get COVID-19.
COVID-19 vaccination is an important tool to help us get back to normal. Learn more about the benefits of getting vaccinated.
COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. It typically takes two weeks after vaccination for the body to build protection (immunity) against the virus that causes COVID-19. That means it is possible a person could still get COVID-19 before or just after vaccination and then get sick because the vaccine did not have enough time to provide protection. People are considered fully protected two weeks after their second dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, or two weeks after the single-dose Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen COVID-19 vaccine.
You should keep using all the tools available to protect yourself and others until you are fully vaccinated. After you are fully vaccinated, you may be able to start doing some things you had stopped doing because of the pandemic. Learn more about what you can do when you have been fully vaccinated.
What we do not know
Although COVID-19 vaccines are effective at keeping you from getting sick, scientists are still learning how well vaccines prevent you from spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 to others, even if you do not have symptoms. Early data show the vaccines do help keep people with no symptoms from spreading COVID-19, but we are learning more as more people get vaccinated.
We’re also still learning how long COVID-19 vaccines protect people.
For these reasons, people who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 should keep taking precautions in public places, until we know more, like wearing a mask, staying 6 feet apart from others, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, and washing their hands often.
COVID-19 vaccines are safe
Millions of people in the United States have received COVID-19 vaccines, and these vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history. This monitoring includes using both established and new safety monitoring systems to make sure that COVID-19 vaccines are safe. These vaccines cannot give you COVID-19. Learn more facts about COVID-19 vaccines.
CDC has developed a new tool, v-safe, to help us quickly find any safety issues with COVID-19 vaccines. V-safe is a smartphone-based, after-vaccination health checker for people who receive COVID-19 vaccines. Learn how the federal government is working to ensure the safety of COVID-19 vaccines.get a COVID-19 vaccination
The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that America was not prepared for a public health crisis. But when New York was ambushed by the virus, we rose to the occasion, supported each other, and bent the curve. Information – listening to the scientists and following the facts – has been a key weapon in our battle to defeat COVID.
New York State health officials are looking for people interested in stepping up and training to become a Public Health Leader, to better understand the coronavirus and other public health issues facing our communities and gain the tools to understand the facts and be a trusted source of information and support in your community.
For more information and to sign up, visit the NYS Covid-19 Updates page.
Vaccine FAQs
Watch our December 2020 'Covid-19 Vaccines: What You Need to Know. What You Want to Know" forum, presented in partnership with @guarl_jcc featuring medical experts and advocates for access to quality healthcare in a broad and info-packed conversation. (Hint: Vital details right at 14:30!)
Our panel was moderated by JADE Founder Amy Mosery, Esq and Alissa Hersh, MD, an allergist/immunologist and co-administrator of a local physicians exchange on Covid-19 topics.
Panelists discuss the different vaccines, why they are safe and answer a host of questions from attendees on vaccine efficacy, potential side effects, skepticsm, and distribution. Yes, it's an investment (75 mins) but so is the health of your family and community! Stay safe + mask up!
NYS Covid-19 Vaccine Program
https://forward.ny.gov/covid-19-vaccine-distribution
Nassau County Covid-19 Resources
https://www.nassaucountyny.gov/4963/COVID-19-INFORMATION
Medical updates:
Northwell Health
https://www.northwell.edu/coronavirus.../vaccine-information
Coronavirus affects everyone
https://thewell.northwell.edu/collection/coronavirus
Mount Sinai Hospital
Covid-19 Fact & Resources / Vaccines, Testing Info, Appointments, etc.
https://www.southnassau.org/sn/novel-coronavirus
https://www.mountsinai.org/about/covid19/faqs...
Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/vaccines/vaccines-faq
Mental Health:
Nassau County Mobile Crisis Helpline
(516) 227-TALK (8255)
New York State Covid-19 Emotional Support Hotline
(844) 863-9314
Helpline for people experiencing anxiety, stress, and depression during the coronavirus emergency.
Free and confidential, staffed by NYS licensed mental health professionals.
8AM-10PM 7 days a week.
SAMHSA's National Helpline 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Free Confidential 24hrs / 365 days a year.
Treatment referral service (for individuals and families facing mental health and/or substance abuse difficulties.
TTY:1-800-487-4889 Text: TalkWithUs to 66746
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273 TALK (8255)
Long Island Crisis Center: 516-679-1111
COPE Foundation
Michelle Graff, LCSW,
516-274-0540
COPELINE for those in need of immediate support; referrals/info:
516-364-COPE(2673)
Bereavement Services:
Good Shepherd Hospice
631-828-7628 - For people of all faith backgrounds
SIBS Place
Joanna Formont, LMHC, Executive Director
Joanna.formont@snch.org
516-374-3000
Bereavement groups for children who have lost a parent, sibling or caretaker due to Covid, other illness and other reasons. SiBS Place also runs support programs for children with parents that have cancer or a sibling with a life-threatening illness. Concurrent programs for adults in the family.
Center For Hope, Cohen's Children's Hospital
Susan Thomas, LCSW
516-216-5194
Bereavement support for children ages 4-18 who have lost a sibling or parent. Parents groups to help parents learn how to help bereaved children.
Compassionate Friends:
Elaine and Joe Stillwell, group leaders. 516-766-4682
Support for parents who have lost a child (young or adult). The group is currently on pause, i.e. meetings, due to Covid, but contact for schedules - weeknight and weekend meetings.